NewKerala.com

Key Points

Indonesia has temporarily closed the Sembalun hiking trail on Mount Rinjani following a fatal accident involving a Brazilian climber. The national park authority cited visitor safety as the priority while conducting trail repairs at a dangerous section. Alternative routes through Senaru and Torean remain accessible to hikers during the closure. Authorities are working with the forestry ministry to improve climbing safety measures across the national park.

Key Points: Indonesia Closes Mount Rinjani Sembalun Trail After Hiker Death

  • Trail closure follows fatal fall of Brazilian hiker last month
  • Repairs target accident-prone section near Segara Anak Lake
  • Alternative routes via Senaru and Torean remain open
  • Authorities reassess climbing safety with forestry ministry
2 min read

Indonesia temporarily closes Mount Rinjani hiking trail via Sembalun

Mount Rinjani National Park temporarily shuts Sembalun trail for repairs after fatal accidents, offering alternative routes for hikers.

"Visitor safety is our priority - Mount Rinjani National Park Authority"

Jakarta, July 18

Indonesia's Mount Rinjani National Park authority has temporarily closed the hiking trail via Pelawangan Sembalun leading to Segara Anak Lake on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara.

Through its official social media account, the authority said that the temporary closure was due to repairs on the trail at coordinates -8.389789, 116.440320, the site of recent accidents involving foreign hikers.

"Visitor safety is our priority," the park authority said on Friday.

The closure also aims to improve ecotourism facilities and strengthen sustainable management of the conservation area in Mount Rinjani National Park, it added.

Alternative routes currently available to hikers include Senaru - Pelawangan Senaru - Lake - Torean, and Sembalun - Pelawangan Sembalun - Summit.

The closure has been in effect since Wednesday, until further notice, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last month, a 27-year-old Brazilian female climber died after falling into a 600-meter-deep ravine while climbing Mount Rinjani.

Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency (SAR) announced that the victim, with the initials JDSP, had fallen into the ravine. However, due to extreme weather and the remote location, the evacuation took longer than expected. She was found dead when the evacuation team finally reached her location.

Muhamad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram SAR Office in Lombok, said that one of the personnel managed to reach the victim's location in the ravine and, after an initial examination, found no signs of life on the victim.

Following the incident, Indonesian authorities evaluated the safety of the climbing system at Mount Rinjani.

Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, Governor of West Nusa Tenggara seeked input from all relevant parties to enhance tourism safety in the region, particularly at Mount Rinjani, to prevent similar accidents in the future.

He also noted that he had directly coordinated with Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, affirming the provincial government's commitment to work together with the ministry to improve safety conditions at Mount Rinjani.

Previously, Deputy Governor Indah Dhamayanti Putri also emphasised the need to reassess the climbing system, including existing regulations, to help prevent further tragedies

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who trekked Rinjani last year, I can say the trails are quite challenging. The Sembalun route especially needs maintenance. Good decision by Indonesian authorities, though I hope they reopen before peak season!
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Rohit P
Very sad about the Brazilian trekker's death 😔 This shows why we need strict safety protocols in adventure tourism. Indian Himalayas could learn from this too - we've had similar accidents in Manali and Sikkim.
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Priya S
The alternative routes are actually more scenic in my experience! Senaru side has amazing waterfalls. Maybe this temporary closure is a blessing in disguise for trekkers to explore less crowded paths 🌿
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Michael C
While safety improvements are welcome, I hope this doesn't lead to over-regulation. Part of Rinjani's charm is its raw, natural beauty. Maybe better signage and trained guides would help more than structural changes.
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Kavya N
My cousin was planning a trip next month! Now we'll have to check the updated routes. Does anyone know if the summit climb is still open via other paths? The sunrise view is supposed to be magical ✨
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Vikram M
This is why proper trekking insurance is must! Many Indian travelers skip it to save money, but medical evacuation from remote locations costs lakh

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